Malkangiri: In a major crackdown on narcotics and illegal trade, police seized over 1,660 kg ganja valued at approximately Rs 17 crore within 24 hours through a series of raids in Odisha’s Malkangiri district.
Three smugglers from Uttar Pradesh, believed to be members of an interstate narcotics smuggling syndicate, were also arrested after the initial raid on a container truck from which 770 kg of ganja was seized by Balimela Police.
Another 640 kg and 250 kg of ganja were seized from forest areas in Chitrakonda and Kalimela, respectively. The smugglers, however, managed to give police the slip during the parallel raids. “Operations against ganja smuggling will continue. I commend SDPO Malkangiri, SDPO Chitrakonda, and all officers involved for this successful operation,” Malkangiri SP Vinodh Patil H told the media on Wednesday.
In the drive against illegal drug trade, 109 cases have been registered in Malkangiri district between January 1 and October 28, during which police have seized 28,897 kg of ganja, confiscated 48 vehicles, and arrested 96 persons, including one woman.